Bags of Love? More of those always welcome

I tripped over the old mailbag recently and out came a letter that reaffirmed a couple of things for me that sometimes are hard to keep in mind.

That true public service can proceed quietly, behind the scenes, away from the spotlight and without rancor or jealousy or venom. The cause, the public good, comes first.

And that this community always seems to find a way to support those efforts that aim to make this a better place, especially when that work lifts up the less fortunate and even more so the young.

It was a handwritten letter and very legible, two characteristics I don't see much of.

It was signed "The Bag Ladies."

Oops. Sorry. Although quite clear, I misread it. It's "The Ladies of Bags of Love."

Bags of love, I thought. Boy, we could always use a truck or two loaded down with that cargo.

Here's the letter:

"As our one-year anniversary of this bittersweet mission approaches, we, the 'Bags of Love' ladies would like to thank the Henderson community for their continued support.

"As of this date we have given over 140 bags to misplaced children of the Henderson community who are placed in foster care due to unfortunate situations in their lives."

I tried to imagine what it might be like.

You're a child, and things haven't been going too good at home. Maybe your parents or the other grown-ups are not around much or will soon be sent someplace for reasons you don't understand. Maybe when they are around it's worse than when they're gone.

Finally, after things get really bad, you're told you're going to be leaving too — and right now. Much of what little you have and all of what you know as home will be left behind. It's confusing and scary, really scary.

That's where the Bags of Love Ladies come in.

Although they never meet the kids who receive their offerings, the ladies hand-make child-sized quilts and matching duffel bags for kids headed to foster care.

They also fill the bags with small toys and stuffed animals and other things to do, like coloring books and puzzles, plus little things to help the children take care of themselves, toothbrushes, soap, combs, hair ties and the like.

These quilts and other items the children can carry with them to those unknown places ahead. The Bags of Love are theirs for sure.

A year after the Ladies got started here and those 140 bags later, the need is still there and growing. Unfortunately, it's always been there and always will.

When Features Editor Donna Stinnett profiled the Ladies of Bags of Love last fall, she was told that an average of four to six children are displaced here every month.

The ladies, who didn't include their full names, wrapped up their letter:

"We continue to be in need of donations for this program, including fabric, personal care items, toys and much more.

"If you would like more information on this program, or would like to help, please call Angie at 830-9480 or Stella at 823-3295. You can also check out the program yourself at Bags of Love.com.

"Again, thank you to the people of this wonderful town for helping to shape the future of our community by giving to our children in need."

Try to put yourself in that child's shoes on a night when something bad has happened and you're taken away.